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CNN Live At Daybreak

Family and Friends Gather to Remember Katharine Graham Today

Aired July 23, 2001 - 08:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Friends, family and admirers gather in Washington to remember Katharine Graham. The longtime leader of the "Washington Post" died last week. She was 84 years old.

President Bush called her the first lady of Washington journalism.

And CNN's Candy Crowley is in Washington, where Graham's funeral gets under way about three hours from now -- Cassie -- or Candy, I'm sorry.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's OK.

From Washington's majestic National Cathedral, a few of the guests beginning to come now -- the public starting to line up outside the grounds here. Katharine Graham was a formidable presence here in Washington, D.C.: a journalist, a socialite, and someone who managed to bring into her living room throughout the years people that crossed a broad spectrum of the arts, politics, as well as the business world. And that kind of life is reflected in those who will participate today in her funeral.

They include for the pallbearers: Robert McNamara, who is a former secretary of defense; Barry Diller, a media executive; power lawyer Vernon Jordan; and Senator Bob Graham, Katharine Graham's brother-in-law and the senator from Florida.

Among the ushers will be: Bill Gates of Microsoft; Mike Nichols, who is a Hollywood film producer; Warren Buffet and Herbert Allen, both of them who, along -- throughout the years gave Katharine Graham advice on how to run the "Post;" Barbara Walters, a close friend and ABC TV personality. Also among the ushers: Jim Lehrer, of public television; Oscar de la Renta, who made many an outfit for Mrs. Graham; Diane Sawyer, a former Nixon aide, as well as now an ABC personality; and Bob Woodward of Woodward and Bernstein -- Mrs. Graham, of course, solidly behind her two reporters who broke the Watergate story.

Now the eulogists: Henry Kissinger of the Nixon administration, who remained a close friend -- he used to say that Katharine Graham could reach across to almost anybody, despite what her paper did to those personalities; also Arthur Schlesinger, an historian; and Ben Bradlee, who Mrs. Graham brought into the "Washington Post," the former executive there. There will also be many members of the Graham family who will deliver the eulogies.

Among the guests, we are expecting former president Bill Clinton, as well as Mrs. Clinton, and many people from Washington, D.C. and along the East Coast, as well as some from Hollywood and from Broadway -- back to you in Atlanta.

MCEDWARDS: All right, CNN's Candy Crowley, thanks very much.

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